Equitable access to water, Paris Access to Drinking Water in MDA Ion Shalaru, Head of Environmental Health Department, National Scientific and Applied Centre for Preventive Medicine

Equitable access to water, Paris General notes Access to water – two meanings: affordable access and capacity to pay; access to safe Drinking Water. Access to information about water. Average water consumption in MDA per person - 1,5m3/month in rural areas and 3 m3/month in urban, per household – 5 and respectively 10 m3/month. Water tariffs are approved by local authorities and are different in different locations, but average tariff for domestic consumption generally is similar in urban and rural settlements – about 0,5-0,6€ per cubic meter, excepting capital city, Chisinau -0,2€. Tariff for industrial consumption – 1,5 € per cubic meter National authorities declared water supply as first national priority in social sphere. Right to water in national legislation – no clear mentions. Difficulties: The majority of the population are ready to pay, but 20 % of the population still consider that water is from the god and they should not pay for water services.

Equitable access to water, Paris Brief evaluation of water and health problems in MDA Safe Drinking Water supply – one of the most acute social and public health problem in Moldova. The drinking water is a factor which causes up to 20% of infectious intestinal diseases and VAH cases, 70% of cases registered in rural areas, 15% of non-infectious diseases, in case of dental fluorosis– 100%, registered in about 200 locations. drinking water quality in the majority of sources doesn’t meet the hygienic requirements: % of samples from water intakes ( %) and 86% from the local sources (shallow wells) because of high concentration of chemical parameters - (in artesian wells fluoride, H2S, ammonia, boron, TDS, in shallow wells - nitrates, TDS), because of microbiological pollution – 30% of shallow wells. 55% of the population has connection to pipe systems: 85% urban, 25% rural;  only 45% of the general population has access to safe water sources, rural population – 75% without access to safe sources; 51% use for drinking purposes water which contains more than 50mg/l of NO3.  Drinking water supply of schools and kindergartens face serious problems- 23,8% of samples didn’t met guidelines on chemical parameters and 19% on microbiological parameters.

Equitable access to water, Paris Basis for actions After ratification of Water and Health Protocol by the Parliament on 29 July 2005 and entering into force of the Protocol, Republic of Moldova became officially a Party on 15 of December This gave more arguments for actions to Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities. Art.6-target and target dates – before The revised National Environmental Health Action Plan contains a special chapter with targets and actions to achieve Protocol objectives. Normative support for acting: Strategy on DWSS, National Programs for Water and Sanitation and “Moldavian Village”, NEHAP and CEHAPE. National norms on Drinking Water quality, harmonized with WHO Guidelines 2004 and EU Directive 98/EC/83, approved by the Government on 25 April, will enter into force after publishing.

Equitable access to water, Paris Water Security Condition Since September 2005 till present National Scientific and Applied Center for Preventive Medicine, with EC support implement Water Security Condition for the rural population as a part of Food Security Program in MDA. Main condition: 100% of tested water sources in rural areas according to WHO recommendations and EU Directive to have published information about water quality. General access to information in 224 villages (26%) from 18 selected districts – on each investigated well has posted information about drinking water quality and recommendations for use and about health risk. Generalized information was posted in all public places of the settlement. Identified safe water sources in each settlement and increased access to safe drinking water in selected areas.

Equitable access to water, Paris Water Security Condition Increased level of education of LPA and population different meetings on water and related issues. Improved Drinking Water resources management - full inventory of existing water sources in 224 locations and designed maps, creation of electronic registers. Electronic data base on drinking water quality created at 18 territorial public health authorities. Strengthened monitoring capacities of public health authorities. Implementation water and sanitation projects with EU support in 16 locations, with drinking water treatment in schools were necessary.

Equitable access to water, Paris Importance of public information campaign Population realized that exist serious problems with drinking water quality and bad water quality can affect health – a part renounce to generalized opinion in many places that from some sources many generations consume water and nothing happens. Better informed population pushed pressure on LPA to intervene and to improve situation. Free access to information for a large part of a population. Project implemented with contribution and participation of the population. Benefits of public participation – people saw the results of their involvement at each stage: selection, evaluation, information, participation, implementation, monitoring and maintenance. for water.

Equitable access to water, Paris Planned activities for To finalize and to approve revised NEHAP before the end of To develop with and to approve, before the end of 2007: 2 normative acts – norms for very small drinking water supply and sanitation and norms for drinking water quality monitoring; To develop water safety plans for the most important water suppliers. To continue implementation of Water Security Condition for the rural population and cover all mayoralties.